Good son-in-law of the Ming Dynasty

Even though the victory was not military, Su Mu was still very happy. After a day and a night in Cangzhou, many things went wrong, and now he finally let out the depression in his chest.

Coming out of the state yamen, Su Mu was planning to go to Gu's house again to inquire about the news.

Just now such a big incident happened in the inspection department, the soldiers who escorted the two dealers of the Gu family were waiting in the yamen, and they already knew that Su Mu had turned his hands into clouds and rain, and drove all the horses away while talking and laughing Out of the tolerance team.

You must know that in the past, Ma Quan had Yang Tongzhi as the backer, and he was rude and aggressive, so the soldiers feared him like a tiger.But he didn't want to, the new Master Mei only took one day and one night to kill such a powerful character lightly.

So, all the people waited at the gate early, and when they saw Su Mu coming out, they rushed forward, flattering and flattering, with respect and fear in their eyes, which made Su Mu a little vain.

Then everyone winked and eyed for a long time, and a secretary said cautiously: "Master Inspector, you just took office. We didn't have time to greet you last night! It happened to be fine today, and the brothers set up a table of wine in the restaurant." , Master, please show me your face."

Everyone has no idea about the temperament of the new inspector.The work of the inspection department is much better than talking about it.There is enough oil and water, but if the new inspector is to be an upright official, with just the salary from the government, it will be a problem to eat, let alone support the family.

Now that Ma Quan has gone and Su Mu is in power, everyone thinks that they should talk to Su Mu.

Su Mu was about to ask these people to do something, and the book office's proposal hit his heart, so he nodded and smiled: "Mei is here for the first time, and I am going to meet you brothers."

Everyone laughed at the same time, and with a roar, they surrounded Su Mu and arrived at a restaurant one mile away from the state government office.

Everyone reported their names, and then stepped forward to toast Su Mu.

The alcohol content in the Ming Dynasty was low, and distilled liquor was not yet popularized, so it was nothing to Su Mu, and naturally the wine was dry when it arrived.

Compared with the Ming Dynasty, the wine table culture of the later generations is not known to be much more advanced. Mixing with his subordinates, Su Mu has long forgotten his identity as a scholar and master.The so-called singing which song on which mountain, it is obviously inappropriate for the same group of soldiers who don't know big characters to say Shiyun.

After a few nasty jokes, everyone laughed together. They only thought that Mr. Mei was amiable and unassuming.Unlike Da Ma Quan in the past, although he could talk to his brothers, he was rude and liked to put on airs.

One of the soldiers was probably a little drunk, so he shook his body and said loudly: "Speaking of which, we have also worked in the inspection department for many years, and we have served several inspection masters one after another. Master Mei, are you The best one. Ma Quan is really abominable bird man. He went on a business trip on weekdays and got benefits. He took [-]% of the benefits, and the remaining [-]% ​​was distributed to us. How dare this guy offend Mr. Mei? When I see Ma Quan, I beat him every time I see him."

"Yes, Mr. Mei, please tell me, we will come and go in the wind and rain, and we will never say anything!" A few soldiers flattered Su Mu and slapped their chests loudly.

A group of people quarreled for a long time, and finally when everyone calmed down, a book office asked Su Mu cautiously: "Master Mei, Ma Quan is gone. In the past, the affairs of the inspection department were handled by that thief. Dare I ask?" Master, what shall we do in the future, will it still be the same? Recently, the brothers are struggling to make a living, and all of them have troubles."

As soon as they heard him talk about business, everyone quieted down and listened intently.

A lot of the work of the inspection department is dirty work, but the investigation and arrest of smuggling is the most lucrative.It's the season of the lean season, and everyone is extremely poor. I hope that Master Mei will lead everyone to do two more votes.Yesterday I finally got the benefits, but in order to get angry with Su Mu, Ma Quan handed over a thousand catties of private salt, which made everyone busy.

Su Mu was thinking about this, and said: "Our inspection department is doing the work of arresting, catching robbers, and interrogating pedestrians. We have something to ask you to do. You have helped me check a woman in the past few days. This person should be The surname is Zhu, who speaks with a capital accent, and has two servant girls by his side. Before you find this person, please put aside the business at hand."

When they heard that they were searching for refugees, everyone's eyes were filled with disappointment. Although they all responded verbally, their emotions were obviously depressed.

The atmosphere of the banquet gradually stagnated, and everyone drank in suspense.

After another half day, Su Mu stood up and said, "It's getting late, let's go back!"

Then he threw the money given by Mr. Gu Wenwen on the table, and said to the book office: "You go to account, and the rest will be distributed to the brothers, and it will be used as errand money for this errand. I know that everyone's salary is meager, so don't worry. Well, with me, Mei Fugui, in the inspection department for a day, it will make your life nourishing."

The words of the book office just now were obviously probing, and Su Mu naturally knew what he meant.If you want your horse to run, you have to feed it.These days, there is no benefit, and others will not be of one mind with you.

The burden was thrown out and spread out on the table heavily, at least 50 taels, which immediately dazzled everyone's eyes.

In the past, when the soldiers of the inspection department went out to investigate private affairs, it was just a leak of the salt inspection department, and there was no guarantee that there would be gains every day.It is considered lucky to be able to open once or twice a month.But that horse is greedy by nature, after he eats a bite first and then distributes it to everyone, it is only one or two yuan, or even less, in his hands.

Today, Su Mu's hand is 50 taels, divided equally, each of them will have [-] taels of hard-earned money.

In the Hongzhi year, prices were extremely low, and two taels of silver were enough to feed a family of six for two months.

For a while, everyone cheered loudly.

One of the soldiers yelled: "Master Mei is so sympathetic to the villain, there is nothing to say, he is just looking for a woman. We are desperate, and we will find her today." Dumped and ran downstairs.

At the same time, everyone rushed down with an "ow". ,

It made Su Mu laugh.

In the next three days, more than 20 soldiers from the inspection department were all dispatched to guard all the entrances and exits of Cangzhou City, and went forward to check strangers when they saw them.

There are even some people wandering around in Cangzhou City when they have nothing to do, making the law and order in Cangzhou City unprecedentedly good.

However, there was still no news about Princess Taikang, which made Su Mu suspicious: Maybe this princess didn't come to Cangzhou at all. If so, wouldn't I, Su Mu, be stuck here for the rest of my life.At least this was the case before Emperor Zhengde was not in power, it was bitter!

The inspection department was brave enough to do things, and it was not without any gains. After being busy for a while, it caught many merchants and traffickers who evaded taxes, and the total fines were six taels of silver.

Su Mu was in a bad mood, and he didn't think much of such petty gains, so he didn't take anything as usual, and told his subordinates to share.

He used to distribute money to the soldiers in the restaurant without suspicion of kindness, but in this way, everyone was grateful, and they all said that Master Mei is really a man of loyalty and courage.

Loyalty finally exploded.

Princess Taikang was not found, but the house was found. It was an independent courtyard of an inn. Su Mu could finally bid farewell to the simple and dirty inspection department and move into the city.

Originally, Su Mu wanted to rent a private house.But the secretary office under him suggested: "Master Mei, you take up the post alone, and there is no one to wait around you. If you live alone, it will be inconvenient to eat and clean things."Why not simply find an inn to rent for a long time, when you are cold and hungry, call out, the shop assistants dare not come to serve you?

Su Mu felt that what the book office said was reasonable. Isn't this the legendary hotel-style apartment?

This place is not big, but it is rare and clean and elegant.Speaking of it, it is a bit like the situation in the TV series "Underground Transportation Station". There is a restaurant in the front and accommodation in the back, a typical northern inn.

After renting an independent yard, Su Mu asked his men to buy some furniture, and asked them to clean it inside and out.

Su Mu was also generous, at noon, he asked the inn to serve food and drinks, and he and his subordinates ate until they were sweating.

On a warm spring day, there is wine and food, and a group of caring soldiers around.Su Mu suddenly felt that life was not bad, and he felt like a rich man with a high mountain and far away from the emperor. Now that there are people who have money, it's just a matter of bullying men and women.

Just drinking refreshedly, a yamen servant came over and said with a smile: "Inspector Mei, Master Zhizhou asked you to come over and talk. The villain rushed to Benbidian early in the morning, but he didn't want you to move into the city. It's easy to find me. .”

"Okay, I'll go right away." Judging from the trial of Gu's private salt case last time, Guan Zhizhou obviously favored Su Mu and gave him a face.

Su Mu guessed that Guan Zhizhou would also talk to him, after all, the fact that the son of the Gu family was going to be a son-in-law was amazing, anyone would have a heart to gossip, let alone Guan Zhizhou, a local official.

He nodded and followed the yamen servant to the state yamen.

Guan Zhizhou still looks like an old man, and he still talks a lot.

As soon as Su Mu sat down, Guan Zhizhou began to talk in a rambling manner, talking about the weather for a while, and the customs for a while, which made him sleepy.

He was staring in a daze, but Guan Zhizhou suddenly said: "Is Inspector Mei very familiar with the Ministry of War? I heard that Ma Shangshu will be promoted recently."

Lazy in the afternoon and slightly drunk, Su Mu's mind was not too clear, he said casually: "He is already a minister, and there is no place to be promoted, so he added a young teacher who is also a prince and grand teacher."

But he didn't see that there was a flash of light in Guan Zhizhou's eyes.

"Mei Xunjian's words are right or wrong. However, the cabinet used to have only three cabinet elders, which was short of manpower. Ma Shangshu, the veteran of the three dynasties, may be joining the cabinet this time with the title of first rank."

Su Mu: "The cabinet is short of manpower, but we have to make up for Yang Tinghe and other young and capable ministers. Ma Shangshu is a bit older. When the new king summoned Ma Shangshu last time, Ma Wensheng was already 79 years old. When Emperor Zhengde and Empress Dowager Zhang asked him questions, they had to repeat them several times."

"Hehe, yes, Ma Shangshu is very old, maybe he won't be able to hold the post of Shangshu for a few years. Didn't you hear someone say who will fill the vacancy when you were in the Ministry of War?" While speaking, Guan Zhizhou pretended to be very casual. Several names were mentioned.

Su Mu didn't doubt that there was him, so he shook his head and put forward his own opinion.He also casually talked about the two servants and Lang Guan of the Ministry of War, and finally shook his head and said: "These people are either lacking in talent or lack of qualifications. In the future, the imperial court may transfer people from other places to fill in the lack of Ma Shangshu."

When he talked about the personnel related to the Ministry of War, it was like looking at tattoos on the palm of his hand.

Guan Zhizhou was originally an old horse in the officialdom, how could he not be able to tell the truth from the fake, he was taken aback in his heart: this Mei inspector was sent from above, and he even knew all the secrets in the officialdom. People, I'm afraid they can't even tell what servants and doctors are in the Ministry of War.It would be strange for Mei Fugui to say that he has no background. From this point of view, it may not be a lie that the youngest of the Gu family will be the royal son-in-law.

Well, let's try again.

Then he turned the topic to the Ministry of Officials.

Su Muke of the Ministry of Officials was so familiar that he even recited the names and origins of all the officials from the beginning to the end, which shocked Guan Zhizhou.

"Inspector Mei has a lot of people in Beijing. Why do you want to come to Cangzhou to be a small ninth-rank military officer? Wouldn't it delay your future?"

Hearing this, Su Mu sobered up, he hesitated and said: "I am a soldier, that is to say, I know more things and my ears are sharper. What kind of future can I have?" Only then did he understand that Guan Zhizhou had already set his sights on him. Suspicious, come here to test.

Guan Zhizhou didn't say anything, and smiled: "The Gu family's case had a lot of loopholes that day. For example, Gu Wenwen had salt with him, why did he secretly transport the salt, and why didn't he buy it openly? Yang Zhou has already done this. I've been pestering Honshu for several days, but in my opinion, it's just a trivial matter, nothing to worry about. Those of us who are officials, the first task is to educate and convince people with virtue. In the future, if there is something wrong with Mei's inspections, you might as well come here The officer communicates more."

Su Mu smiled knowingly, stood up and cupped his hands: "The Zhizhou's virtue is noble, and the officials admire it!"

Coming out of the county government office, Su Mu breathed out a mouthful of alcohol, feeling a little annoyed in his heart, and cursed again: "Old fox!"

Guan Zhizhou obviously had doubts about his identity, but Su Mu was caught off guard for a while, and he let out his words.

If the identity is exposed and spread, the dignified Su Ziqiao changes his name and surname to become a nine-rank inspector, how can he meet people in the future.Moreover, this matter is related to the royal reputation, it is really exposed, and the Queen Mother Zhang will not be the first to spare him.

It is better to find people earlier.

Su Mu didn't bother to go to the Banbi shop, anyway, there was not a single ghost there, and all his men were sent out.

Having a headache after drinking, I simply went to patrol the streets to see if the soldiers of the inspection department were lazy.

To be honest, Su Mu didn't have much confidence in his subordinates.Although recently he has gained all the hearts of the people, but he is only fed by money, and he is afraid that he will overwhelm Ma Quan with thunder.

But Su Mu is not their tail, who knows what these guys are doing behind the scenes.

Su Mu got a headache after being drunk and couldn't walk, so he hired a top runner to patrol the streets.

During this patrol, I actually saw several soldiers from the inspection department checking pedestrians on the street, but they were not playing tricks.

But beckoning over to ask, those people got nothing, which made Su Mu very disappointed.

After patrolling the city for a long time, Su Mu called out of the city and arrived at the edge of the Grand Canal.

But seeing thousands of sails racing outside, against the backdrop of the blue sky, white clouds and mighty spring water, it makes people feel refreshed.

There are quite a few official ships on the river, there are tax inspectors, there are checkpoints for the army, and there are people from the Yanyuan envoy, and they are very busy.

There are people from the inspection department in this place, and two soldiers are standing on the side of the road with knives at their waists to check pedestrians.There were not many people on the road, but they were all there, in sharp contrast to the situation on the river.

Seeing Su Mu, the four of them stepped forward to salute at the same time.

Su Mu said angrily: "There is nothing to be found here, and there are not many people. You go to the river to check!"

The four soldiers smiled and said: "If you go back to inspect the master, we, a small yamen, will not be able to go to that place, and we will be scolded by the military master and the salt department carefully."

Su Mu: "Although we go to investigate, we are not here to collect taxes or investigate private matters, we just find people, and we don't make negotiations with other yamen." He is also a little anxious, and it will take five or six days to go to Cangzhou, let alone Taikang The princess herself, not even a hair was found.

At this moment, a long wooden raft floated by the river, and there were about six or seven sailors standing on it.

Strange to say, most people put rafts in the middle of the river.This group of people happened to line up by the river, which immediately caught the attention of one of Su Mu's subordinates, and immediately shouted: "Who are you, stop!"